Each year, the Panhandle region receives an allocation of federal homeland security funding through the Texas Division of Emergency Management. The Panhandle Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee (PREMAC) is responsible for developing recommendations as to how those funds should be used to support regional preparedness goals. The types of projects typically supported by the PREMAC are those that will have regional impact and help to improve the Panhandle’s overall preparedness capabilities. The PREMAC seeks to target these funds toward projects that will improve the region’s ability to detect, deter and respond to disasters; both man-caused and natural.

What it is...

The Texas Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program is a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature. It provides funding to rural volunteer fire departments for the acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, county fire radio system components, dry-hydrants, computer systems and firefighter training. Approximately $13,950,000 is distributed annually under the program.

Who is eligible...

Any chartered, non-profit volunteer fire department operated by its members is eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer fire department is also eligible provided the number of paid members is 20 or less.

The purpose of the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Program, formerly known as the Rural Community Fire Protection (RCFP) Program under the U.S. Forest Service, is to provide federal financial, technical, and other assistance to state foresters to train and equip fire departments in rural areas and rural communities to prevent and suppress fires. The state forester passes the money along to the fire departments.

Departments must serve a community with 10,000 or less population. This 10,000 population limit helps get available VFA funding to the neediest fire departments. Most grants will be less than $5,000. Funding must be matched on a 50-50 basis by non-federal dollars or in-kind, and can be used for fire equipment, training and start-up organization of fire departments.

The Texas Facilities Commission disposes of salvage and surplus personal property from Texas state agencies. Eligible entities such as other Texas state agencies, political subdivisions, and assistance organizations may contact the agency offering the property to arrange a transfer at a price established by the agency. If property is not transferred to an eligible entity, the general public is invited to purchase the property by competitive sealed bid, live auctions, internet auctions or at one of our retail storefronts.

This site should be checked regularly. It provides postings on grants awarded to fire departments around the state; not only state/federal grants but foundation grants as well. This could be a 4-star site.

Source

U.S. Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Purpose

The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is to award one-year grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations of a state to enhance their abilities with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. Our primary goal is to provide assistance to meet fire departments' and nonaffiliated EMS organizations' firefighting and emergency response needs. This program seeks to support organizations that lack the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards they may face.

The FPP refers to one of the Department of Defense's (DoD) special programs where firefighters can get excess DoD property to be used for firefighting and emergency services. Certain property obtained from this program passes ownership after it has been in use for a specified period of time. This program is managed by the USDA Forest Service with cooperation of the State Forestry Agencies.

Site provides a compendium of resources related to rural firefighting issues; from planning, to grants, to training and more.

Source

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Office of Emergency Medical Services Trauma System Coordination (OEMS/TS)

Purpose

Under this program funds may be used to support and improve the development of the Texas Emergency Health Care System and increase the availability and quality of emergency pre-hospital health care.